Unusual 



Binds *^ he most unusua ^ b""ds * ever observe d in these 



parts were a pair of hoopoes, which came in the 

 summer, and frequented an ornamental piece of 



ground, which joins to my garden, for some weeks. 



They used to march about in a stately manner, feeding in the 



walks many times in the day ; and seemed disposed to breed in my 



outlet ; but were frightened and persecuted by idle boys, who would 



never let them be at rest. G. W. 



The Hoopoe 



ONLY once have we ever seen a hoopoe in England ; 

 and a strange and startling sight it was, for this is an 

 extraordinary bird in appearance and habits. About 

 eleven inches in length, he wears a brilliant dress of 

 buff and black-and-white ; his back and tail are black, 

 with showy bars of white and yellow, and on his head 

 he flaunts a large, beautiful crest, tipped with black. 

 He has a long curved bill, some two inches in length, 

 with which he spears insects. 



While you might see a hoopoe any day in the summer 

 in a southern or eastern county, and would instantly 

 recognise it by its great crest and variegated hues, 

 very few of these birds now come to us from Southern 

 Europe, where they are common. Those that came in 

 the past were cruelly persecuted, not only by idle boys, 

 but especially by collectors. Had it not been thought 

 the proper course to shoot every rare visitor, the 

 hoopoe might have become a regular British bird ; 

 and even now, if encouraged, might nest in our land. 



